Lev

  The jury was in.

  Life just wasn’t fair.

  Two days passed, and although it was a short time, it was long enough for almost everyone at Bleeding Hearts to find out I had a brother, more shockingly that it was Alessio ‘Scar Face’ Scarfo. Sasha found it particularly funny. And I hated him for it.

  He found every excuse to tell people about the brother who didn’t want a sister, and gloated while I shrank into myself.

  It surprised me that Anika took me aside, and with a sympathetic look in her eye, she hugged me tight as she stroked my hair, telling me she was sorry. I despised her for that too. I could never figure out if we were friends or not. She made it hard to hate her when I so desperately needed the comfort.

  Nas asked me about Laredo, feigning disinterest, but I could see she wanted to know about him. I smiled at her. “You want to come with me next time I see him? He’s our uncle, after all.”

  She blinked down at her coffee mug and nodded. “Yeah, that might be okay.” She quickly added, “I mean, I wouldn’t let you go alone anyway. Not after Alessio pulled that shit.” She nudged me lightly. “I got your back, kukla.”

  “I know he had an affair with your mom, but it’s okay to admit you miss him,” I muttered gently.

  “I don’t,” she said all too quickly. At my unmoving stare, she shrugged and squawked, “I don’t!”

  I let it go. She didn’t want to admit it, but I knew the truth.

  Saturday morning came, and Lev and I lazed around in bed, making love with aching slowness, in no rush to leave our bubble-o-love when the buzzer sounded. Lev got out of bed, in all his nude glory, went to the wall, and picked up the receiver. “Yeah?”

  I watched from across the room as his shoulders stiffened and he hissed, “You got some nerve, asshole,” then he hung up. When he turned, his jaw was tense and he looked over at me.

  A frown marred my brow. “What is it?”

  He opened his mouth to speak, when the buzzer went off again. He picked up the receiver once more and held it to his ear. He held it there a long while and closed his eyes. “You’ve got five minutes. Not a second more.” With a sigh, he hung up the receiver and told me, “You might want to shower. You have a guest.”

  “Who is it?”

  He leaned against the wall and spoke quietly, “Your brother.”

  I pulled the sheets higher up my body, my shoulders stiffening. “I don’t want to see him.”

  Lev watched me closely. “Are you sure?” I didn’t respond quickly enough, so he threw on a pair of pajama pants. “Okay. I’ll send him away, mouse.”

  Just as he unlocked the bedroom door from the inside, I called out, “Wait.” If I didn’t hear him out, I would forever wonder what he’d come to say to me. “Okay, I’ll see him. Give me a minute.”

  I rushed across the room into the en suite and had the quickest shower of my life. I didn’t bother with makeup, just brushed out my wet hair, threw on a pair of blue jeans and a loose white sweater, and slipped on a pair of flip-flops before making my way downstairs.

  Lev stood there in his pajama pants, his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Alessio in complete silence. The moment he heard my footsteps, he spoke to my brother who stood a few feet away, his hands behind his back. “You’ve got five minutes. Make the time you have worth it, because you’ll never get another chance.”

  He kissed my head as I passed him, and I watched him walk into the kitchen. I stopped a long way from my brother. He was dressed in a pair of brown khakis, a white tee, and a black jacket. He also looked extremely nervous.

  “Hello,” I mumbled.

  He raised a hand in greeting and sighed as he spoke, “Hey.” He stepped forward and held out his other hand. He did this so quickly that I stepped back with a flinch. Alessio’s face twisted as he held out the bunch of pink tulips, his hand falling slightly. “Shit. I’m not gonna hurt you, Mina.”

  I hugged myself, my voice flat. “You already have.”

  His hands found his hips, the bunch of tulips hanging upside down. He dipped his chin, nodding to the ground. “Yeah,” he admitted. When he lifted his head, he spoke sincerely, “I shouldn’t have said what I said. I thought about some of the things I told you later on, and I…” His lips thinned. “I shouldn’t have said those things. It wasn’t your fault he was a mean bastard, and I mean it when I say I’m glad I took all that shit from Enzo so you never had to. So,”—he shrugged awkwardly and spoke quietly—“sorry.”

  He seemed genuinely sorry—or at least he acted it.

  “Okay,” I muttered under my breath.

  I didn’t know what else to say, so I didn’t say anything.

  Alessio, looking more and more uncomfortable by the second, swallowed hard. He moved to place the bunch of tulips on the hall table by the door and stepped back. “Okay, well, that’s all I wanted to say, so I guess I’ll see you around.” He thought about that then sighed, “Or not.”

  He was being civil, and something told me that was a big deal for Alessio Scarfo.

  Alessio moved to leave when I called out, “Would you like some coffee?”

  He stilled, spun back around, and then reached up to rub the back of his neck. He nodded uneasily. “Sure. Coffee would be great.”

  We took our coffee in the living room where we could speak alone, but where I wouldn’t have to be far from Lev. I wasn’t sure how this would end. It seemed Alessio could be unpredictable when provoked.

  I kept my first question simple. “How old are you?”

  “I’ll be thirty this year,” he told me as he held his coffee mug tighter than he should have. “How about you?”

  “I’m twenty-four.”

  A long silence followed.

  “And you were homeless,” he added quietly.

  “Yeah.” I nodded slowly. “I don’t really like to talk about it.”

  “Sure. Okay,” he said. “And you’re working at Bleeding Hearts?”

  “Yeah. I’m bartending.”

  “How are you liking it?” he asked politely.

  I smiled down into my mug. “I like it just fine.”

  Oh, God, this conversation was so freaking painful.

  It was like eating chalk. Cheap and tasteless.

  I sighed, running a hand through my damp hair. “You don’t have to be so polite, you know? You can ask me real questions. I promise I won’t get freaked out.”

  He nodded, but his hesitation was clear. “Clara…” He cleared his throat. “She was nice, huh?”

  “She was,” I said genuinely.

  He bit the inside of his lip. Just like I did when I was nervous. And the act made me smile. “You got any photos of her?”

  “No,” I told him with deep regret. “I left my photo album with my foster parents when I ran away. I was seventeen and stupid. I didn’t even think.” I huffed out a long breath. “I’d do anything to get it back.”

  He must have really wanted to see that album, because the next thing he said was, “I’m good at finding people. If you give me their names and whatever other info you can, I’ll see what I can do.”

  I smiled at him then, and I grinned wide. “Lev’s already looking for them.”

  Alessio shrugged. “Can’t hurt to have two people looking.” His lip twitched. “Many hands make light work, you know?”

  The conversation was getting easier. My heart warmed.

  But my smile fell. “You’ve never seen a picture of Mom?”

  “Yeah, I have, but those were at the club. Laredo has a stack of ‘em. She was all dolled up for the stage. I guess I wanted to see how she looked in real life, you know?” His lip twitched and he caught my eye. “Those photos at the club…I’ve seen our mother’s tits.”

  A bark of laughter came out of me so hard that I had to cover my mouth. “Oh, man. Ewww.”

  His body shook with silent laughter and the scars around his mouth stretched. “Yeah, not cool.” His smile stretched as far as it could and he winced, reaching up to rub
the thickest scar at his lip.

  I noticed.

  He noticed that I noticed, and his smile fled.

  He lifted his hand and ran it in front of his scarred face. “I wish I could change this.” He paused a moment before adding, “I haven’t always looked this way.”

  I tried to smile. “I haven’t always looked this way either.”

  Alessio pinned me with a stare. “You’re beautiful though.” He shook his head. “You don’t scare kids with your ugly mug.”

  His words were pained, and it hurt to listen to them, but he was my brother, and if he wanted to talk about it, I would listen attentively, because he needed me to.

  “I know about what happened. I know about your wife and Sasha.” I reached over to lay my hand over his, the hand that rested on his knee. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t be. She was a fucking lunatic. We married in Vegas after a drunken night out. We met a few hours before. I didn’t even know her. I sure as fuck didn’t love her. She was beautiful though.” He shrugged. “My own fault for thinking with my cock.”

  I removed my hand, flushing at his crude admission. “I see.”

  He glimpsed down at his wristwatch. “Shit. Is that the time? I…” He looked up at me, wearing a hesitant look on his face. “I gotta go.”

  Disappointment filled me. “Oh.” I stood and he followed suit. I forced a smile. “Well, it was nice talking to you, Alessio.” I wasn’t sure how my next request would go. “I know it might sound crazy, but if you have any pictures of Enzo, I’d really like to see them. I know I can’t call him my father, but I was made from part of him. I’d like to see how he looked.”

  His face brightened. “Yeah, I got a few. I can bring ‘em down one day.”

  A breath of relief left me. “That would be great.”

  Alessio grinned then. “I’ll bring ‘em down if you let me find your foster parents.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him, but did it smiling. “You really want to see that album.”

  His smile softened. “I know I can’t call Clara my mother, but I was made from part of her.”

  Without permission, I reached out and took his hand, squeezing. I released it quickly and walked into the hall for a pen and piece of paper. I returned with the written details and handed it to him. “Here. These are all the names of the family members and where they used to live. I can’t remember much more than that.” I pointed out the phone number on the corner of the page. “That’s my number.”

  Alessio looked down at the details before folding it up and slipping it into his pocket. “This is a good start. I’ll let you know if I find anything.” He looked up at me. “I’ll call.”

  I held out my hand and he took it, not shaking it, just holding it. And my heart ached. Today had gone well. I didn’t want him to go. I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to talk from dusk till dawn until there was nothing left to say.

  My eyes bright, I asked on a whisper, “Can I hug you?”

  He blinked down at me. His response came in the form of him tugging the hand he held, pulling me to him until his arms wrapped around me, and his warmth blanketed me. Reaching up, I gripped the sides of his tee and rested my head on his chest, closing my eyes, just taking in this special moment.

  He was tall and warm, and it felt right. I felt safe with my big brother, just as I should have.

  His voice thick, he spoke quietly. “I’m so sorry, Mina.”

  “It’s okay, Alessio,” I reassured. “It’s over and done with. Forgotten. We’re good.”

  He squeezed me tight until someone cleared his throat. We pulled back from each other to find Lev standing in the open doorway, wearing a stoic expression. “Time to go, Alessio.”

  I glared at Lev before turning to Alessio and softening my face. “Text me so I have your number, okay?”

  Still, he held my hand, almost unwilling to release it. “Yeah, okay.”

  Finally, he let go, and I walked him to the door. I picked up the flowers that had been left there forgotten, and smiled. I waved off my brother and stood there, watching him leave.

  Strong arms came around my waist, hugging me tight. I lifted a hand and laid it on Lev’s forearm as he asked, “How’d it go?”

  My smile was bright. “Good. Really good.”

  He sighed softly. “I suppose we’re going to be seeing more of him then.” I turned in his arms to look up at him. At my confused look, he stated, “I don’t like the way he spoke to you that night. I’d like to break his nose.”

  I patted his chest. “He apologized. I think meeting me overwhelmed him. I don’t think he was ready to for it.” He grunted and I smiled slowly. “I’m suddenly very tired.” His brow rose. I uttered, “I think we should go back to bed.”

  He blinked then smiled. And my heart stuttered.

  I squeaked as he lifted me over his shoulder and took the stairs two at a time. The afternoon found our room was filled with the sounds of my moans and Lev’s groans of pleasure.

  Really…how better to spend a Saturday?

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Mina

  Saturday night at Bleeding Hearts, with yet another sparse room of men, had me going to offer advice to a person who did not want it. Perhaps my opinion was unnecessary. Unwarranted. But Lev was invested in this club, and seeing it fail would kill me.

  There had to be an alternative.

  Sasha sat at his desk glaring at me. I was starting to think he had no other way of looking at me. “Burlesque,” he repeated, and I nodded.

  “Yeah. I mean, you wouldn’t have to change much. The girls already know how to dance. The only difference would be that they’d keep some of their clothes on, but be a little flirty with the patrons, tease them. They want to keep their jobs, so even the ones who might not be on board will come around…I think.”

  His glare had not evaporated. I didn’t know what his problem was. It was clear things were not going well.

  I thought it was a good idea.

  I stepped forward. “Listen, I’ve been online. Burlesque is so in right now. And it’s not just men who love it. Men find it sexy, and women don’t find it seedy. I found that a lot of women won’t go into a gentleman’s club, but they would a burlesque joint.” I paused to let that sink in. “You could double your audience.”

  “Mina, we’re a gentleman’s club—” he started with that I-know-more-than-you-do tone of his.

  I cut him off with a calmly said, “A gentleman’s club that is failing.” His jaw ticked. I added quietly, “We can change this. We don’t have to let Bleeding Hearts fall.”

  Sasha picked up a pen, tapping it against his hardwood desk. “What do you care if we go bust?”

  I didn’t need to explain anything to him. He was baiting me. He knew why I was invested. I loved his brother more than life itself. I simply stated, “I care.”

  My heartbeat increased and I waited patiently to be told to go away. You could say I almost shit myself when Sasha opened his desk drawer and flicked a credit card over the table at me. “You’ve got a month to show me this could work. Otherwise, I’ll be doing it my way.”

  “What’s my budget?” I asked as I took the shiny black credit card.

  “There is no budget,” he muttered, but added on a smirk, “but know this. Whatever you buy that doesn’t get used is coming out of your pay. So spend wisely.”

  Did he know whom he was speaking to? I was the queen of thrifty spending! I had this in the bag. Failure was not an option.

  After the club closed that night, Sasha called everyone over to the bar to tell them there would be some changes being made. The dancing girls came forward, faces drawn. I wasn’t sure, but it was kind of obvious they thought the club was closing.

  Sasha spoke. “I think it’s time we talked about where this club is heading.”

  One of the girls’ shoulders slumped. She looked about ready to cry.

  Sasha went on. “Things aren’t working the way they’re going. Aphr
odite’s Kiss has stolen our customers. They took a chance and it paid off.” He paused before he added, “It’s time we did the same.”

  He leaned back against the bar and asked, “What do you know about burlesque?”

  Birdie chimed in, “I know about burlesque. I danced burlesque before I moved here. I tried to find an act to join when I first came down, but I couldn’t find anything.” She looked to the girls. “It was popular in Chicago. It’s more of a show than a strip joint.”

  “Right,” Sasha nodded in agreement. He looked to his dancing girls. “You want to keep your jobs?”

  A collective murmur went around. What a stupid question. Of course they wanted to keep their jobs.

  Sasha nodded. “We shut down Monday through Thursday this week. I need to get some shit done. When you come back on Friday, I want to see what you can do.”

  My face fell, along with my heart. “Sasha, that’s not enough time.”

  He turned his hard stare at me and repeated, “Friday. I expect you here early. No later than five p.m. Show me what you got.”

  My stomach dipped. It wasn’t enough time. I felt Lev’s eyes on me. I turned to my left and looked up into his warm honey eyes. “It’s not enough time,” I muttered.

  He searched my face before calling out, “Birdie,” and when she approached, he stated, “You want to earn some overtime?”

  Birdie grinned. “Hell yeah, baby. I got two little mouths to feed at home.”

  His eyes softened at her enthusiasm. “Mina is going to need your help with the girls. Can you show them how it’s done, how to dance?”

  She placed her hands on her hips and puffed out a long breath. “My guess is most of these girls started by doing some form of dance.” She stepped forward and hollered, “Yo, chicas. Who here has a background in dance?”

  To my surprise, almost all the girls raised their hands. Birdie grinned. “Well, all right. We’re gonna need to buckle down and come up with some choreography before Friday. Who’s with me?”

  The smiles on the girls’ faces were priceless. They were excited, which in turn excited me, taming the fluttering butterflies in my belly. I turned to Anika and Nas. “I’m going to need help with handouts and advertising.” I looked over my shoulder at Sasha. “Free drink with flyer?”